Button blanking machine



March M, 195% J. WEBER, JR, ET AL.

BUTTON BLANKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17. 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l Match 14,1950 Filed Jan. 17, 1944 FIG. 4 a

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I i k i 1 W I I 9 k 1 I l m. .i

' 2/ I 5 F L,, a4 IFJ I :i fi I l 1 1 32 i l 4 5 W34 39 /2 v I /6. 4 37/7 36 INVENTORS i J. WEBER JR 1.4-1. WEBER. EHWEEER L.G.WEEER C.F- WEBERW-F- WEBER BY EWWEBER 6.19. GOETZMA/V March 141, 1950 J. WEBER, JR, ETALBUTTON BLANKING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 1'7, 1944 INVENTORSfie. 3

J. W555i? 1/1? LJ-I. Pi l-BER E H. WEBER .L. G. WEBff? QR WEED? mzr.WEBER BY 144 WEBER CA. GaETZ/WM/ i 4 i I p Patented Mar. 14, 1950 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE BUTTON BLANKING MACHINE Application January 17,1944, Serial No. 518,642

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a method of forming substantiallycircular blanks from roughly flat material and to a new apparatus forperforming the method. This method is intended more especially for themaking of button blanks from mollusk shells, although it can obviouslybe used with other materials and for producing circular blanks intendedfor other purposes than the making of buttons.

Among the objects of this invention are increased utilization of rawmaterials in a way to reduce wastage to a minimum; the provision of anew apparatus which is so constructed that it will grip and hold thework material in a definite position, while being worked on, so that theblanks produced from the work material will have a substantiallycylindrical surface When severed from the material; the provision of anapparatus which will hold the work material against movement in anydirection other than longitudinally with reference to the cuttingelement so as to reduce to a minimum the amount of breakage of cuttingelements; the provision of an apparatus of the character indicated whichwill hold the work material against movement in any direction butlongitudinally with reference to the cutting element and will eliminatethe necessity for the operator to manually hold the material, thusrunning the risk of injury to his hands; the provision of an apparatusof the character indicated in which the cutting element can be easilyexchanged for another one of a different size so that blanks ofdifferent sizes may be cut by the same machine without the making ofradical changes in the machine; and such further objects, advantages,and capabilities as will hereafter appear and as are inherent in thestructure disclosed herein. Our invention further resides in thecombination, construction, and ar rangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and, while we have shown therein what is nowregarded as the preferred embodiment of this invention, together with amodification thereof, we desire that the same be understood asillustrative only and not be interpreted in a limiting sense.

In the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part hereof,

Fig. 1 illustrates a front view of this machine with the driving motorshown in broken lines and 2 section, looking in the same direction as inFig. 2 Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation showing how the work materialis gripped and held by the work-holding elements;

Fig. 4a shows the structure of Fig. 4 in a different operative position;Fig. 5 represents, in elevation, partly broken away, the preferred typeof eroding means for cutting the blanks from the work material;

Fig. 6 represents a plan view, in reverse, looking down upon thestructure shown in Fig. 5;

the driving belt broken away, the motor and belt being illustrativemerely of any suitable driving means for the rotating spindle;

Fig. 2 represents a side view of the structure shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 represents a vertical longitudinal central Y Fig. 7 shows amodified form of holding means; and

Fig. 7a shows the structure of Fig. 7 in a different operative position.

Reference will now be made in greater detail to the annexed drawings fora more complete description of this invention. Basically, this machinecomprises a supporting member l, a pair of bearing supports 2 and 3, anda support 4 for a work-holder 5. A rotatable spindle 6 has a drivepulley l secured thereto in driving relation by means of a key 8. Aroundthe pulley l, as shown, is a drive belt 9 which is arranged to be drivenby an electric motor Ill.

Webs I connect the main support or backbone l of the apparatus and thework-holder support 4 and furnish supporting means for the shaft l2carrying the pinion l3 by means of which the lower work-holder 5 may beraised or lowered. This lower Work-holder 5, as shown in Fig. 3, iscarried in a socket in the upper end of the vertically movable bar 14,provided along one side with a rack l5 which meshes with the teeth ofthe pinion [3. A grooved pulley I6 is secured adjacent the outer end ofthe shaft I2 and between this and the end of the shaft is secured, inany suitable manner, a crank ll by which the shaft may be manuallyrotated. At its end IS, a rope or cable H) is secured to the pulley l6,extending over the top thereof and downwardly on the back side to aweight 20 (see Fig. 3). The amount of this weight may be adjusted in anysuitable manner, as by placing auxiliary weights on top of it around thecable l9. This weight is sufficient to cause the bar H to be normallylifted toward its upper position. By grasping the handle I! and pullingit toward him, the operator may lower the bar I4 and the work-holder 5carried thereby to the position shown in Fig. 3, in which the workmaterial may be inserted between the lower holder 5 and the upper holder2 I.

In Fig. 4, the work material 22 is shown between the work-holders 5 and2|, with the lower holder 5 raised until the work material is engagedand held between the holders 5 and 2i.

In this position, the work material is held down against the top of theholder 5 and is prevented from moving in any direction with referencethereto, to the holder 2|, or to the saw 23. At 23a, in Figs. 5 and 6,is shown the preferred form of saw which is a modification of that shownat 23.

At 24 is shown a tubular member provided at its upper end with a flange25 which rests upon the arm 2 and supports the tubular member immovablywithin the arm and inside of the spindle 6. Within the tubular member 24is a second tubular member 26 which. is. slidable vertically therein.This second or inner tubular member is provided at its upper end with aflange 21 which may rest on the top of a cylindrical stop 28 and haveits downward movement limited thereby to any desired extent, since stopsof various lengths may be used. The upper workholder 2| has its upperend tapered slightly and fitting in the lower end of the tubular member25. This definitely and positively positions the member 2|, laterally,with reference to the saw 23, or 23a. The same endcan be accomplished byhaving the upper endof 2| screw-threaded into the lower end of member26. The saw is held in a chuck mounted in the lower end of a the spindle6 and forms a continuation thereof.

The upper end of the holder 2| is laterally grooved to make it possibleto force air through the saw 23 to clear out'cuttings from the workmaterial.

In order to insure that the upper holding member 2i, when not serving tohold the work, as in Fig. 4, will normally be at its lowermost position,means 29, shown in the present drawings as a weight, is mounted on ahollow member projecting upwardly from the upper end of the tubularmember 26. Of course this could be replaced. by a spring but thedefinite weight is regarded as preferable to a spring. The mass of theweight 29 can be adjusted in any suitable manner, as by adding orsubtracting auxiliary weights, so as .to get the desired pressure of thework-engaging member 2| on the work material 22. The extension 30 ishollow so that air can be blown therethrough to blow away dust from thecutting area, as indicated above, if a hose is attached to the end ofthe extension.

A groove 3! is or may be formed in the bar M to receive a reduced end ofthe bolt 32 which projects into this groove and is held in adjustedposition by means of the lock nut 33. This bolt 32, cooperating with thelower end of groove 3|, serves to limit the upward movement of the barl4 and to prevent disengagement between the pinion l3 and rack l5. Itmay, if desired, be omitted. The opening through the center of the bar14 may be used either to suck the dust away from the cutting region or,if connected with a blower, it may serve for the blowing of the dustaway from this region. Around the upper end of the bar I4 is closelyfitted a cap 34' which rests on the flange 35 and extends downwardly toserve as a shield for keeping the dust from getting in between thesupport 4 and the bar it, just under the flange 35 when the bar Itcarrying holder member 5 is moved upwardly.

The lower holder member 5 fits in the bar 14 tightly enough so thatrotation of the saw 23, 01' 23a, will not cause the holding member 5 torotatein the bar I4. However, a screwthreadedopening; is. formed. in,the upper end portion of the bar I 4 and, as shown in Fig. 3, has ametallic plug therein which is forced against the stem of holder member5 by a headless set screw Ma.

The weight 29 is sufiiciently heavy to hold the work material definitelypositioned on the work-holder 5 and yet it is not so heavy that theweight 20, acting through the cable l9 and pulley it, cannot push thebar [4 upwardly and lift the weight 29. Sufficient force should also beexerted to cause the requisite cutting pressure between the eroding toolor saw 23 and the work material so that the desired cutting will takeplace. When the cutting has been completed and the upper end of theholding member 5 is just within the lower end of the cutting member 23'and severance of the work material has taken place, the operator maygrasp the handle I! and pull it toward him, thus lowering the bar l4 andthe holder member 5. At this time the work material will surround theupper end of member 5 and it must be lifted up and separated from theholder. If there is sufii cient work material left for the cutting ofanother blank, the work material may be moved so that the blank, whencut, willbe full size, when severed from the work material. This may berepeated as many times as there is sufiicient uncut material in thestock for the furnishing of blanks of desired shape or size. Each timeafter the work material has been re-positioned, the handle I! is allowedto move upwardly and the weight 20 causes the pulley [6 to force thelower holder 5 and the work material against the upper holder 2|. Thismotion 'iscontinued until the work engages the cutter 23, and this,then, begins the cutting operation which is continued until the blank issevered from the work material. The work holders hold the work materialand the blank, both before and after severance takes place. Mechanicaloperating means may be substituted for the manual means IT for operatingthe holder member 5.

A collar 36 is secured to the end of shaft l2 and has an arm 31projecting therefrom which has an adjustable screw 38 extendingtransversely therethrough to engage with a stop 39. This limits thedownward motion of the weight 20 and the upward motion of the lowerholding member 5.

It is preferable to have the lower holding member 5 proportioned withreference to the cutting tool 23 so that the former will just fit insideof the latter without contacting the same. Hence, if one has beencutting a 24-line button and changes to a l0-line button, it isnecessary to put in a holder 5 of smaller diameter. On the other hand,if the change is from a 10-1ine to a 24-line, then it is desirable tochange to a larger holder so as to support the pressure closer to thecutting tool and thus prevent shattering of the work material.

Inasmuch as the structure of the bearing head is not involved in theclaims and for construction purposes appears to be perfectly clear, thesame will not be described in detail. Similarly, the chuck holding thecutting tool 23 in place appears not to need detailed description.

The cutting tool 23a, shown in Figs. 5 and 6, comprises a mountingspindle 40 and a hollow cyl ndrical body 4! integral therewith, and alsocutting elements 42. The body 4| has openings drilled longitudinallythereof and then the wall thickness is reduced both internallyv andexternally so that the cylindrical cutting elements 42 project bothwithin and outside of the body 41. These elements should project veryslightly. be

yond the end of the cylindrical body because they are very hard andbrittle. Having been mounted in the body, they are brazed or otherwisemetallically united thereto so that they will be rigidly held thereby.The ends are then out so that they are slightly stepped and have a sharpcutting edge extending substantially radially of the body member. Thismakes an excellent eroding tool which can be used for a whole daywithout resharpening, which is not true of the ordinary cylindricalsteel button saw.

It is of course obvious that, because of the set-screw 44, shown in Fig.1, the handle IT can be adjusted on shaft 12 to any convenient position.It is also obvious that, because of the adjustability of the stop-screw38, the upper limit position for the lower holding member -5 may beadjusted as desired.

In Fig. 4, the mollusk shell 22 is shown in erosssection for the purposeof showing how the inner face rests fiat upon the serrated upper end ofthe lower holding member 5 so that it will be held rigidly againstlateral or rocking movement when engaged by the upper holding member 2|.

Fig. 7 shows a modified form of the Work holders in which the lower workholder 5a is hollow and has a light spring 45 therein for forcingupwardly a longitudinally movable contained unit so that its upper end,provided with a plurality of points, may protrude beyond the outer rigidperipheral edge of the lower holder. As this rises, the spring yieldsand permits the rigid part to engage the face of the work material. Thepoints 46 of the lower holder, cooperating with corresponding points 47at the end of a sleeve 48 surrounding an upper rigid holding member 2Ia,serve to prevent any rotation of the blank as the lower holder withdrawsfrom. the eroding means when the blank is severed from the stock. Thesleeve 48 is reciprocable on the holding member Zia and is held downyieldingly by a spring 49, the upper end of which bears against a collar50 secured to holder member 21a. The auxiliary holding member 48 has aslot and pin connection or other equivalent means for preventingrelative rotation of the parts 2lu. and 48, as shown at 5|, andpermitting relative sliding motion thereof. It will therefore be seenthat the members 46 and 48 cooperate in preventing undesirable rotationof the blank as the eroding means and the lower holder separate.

One or more grooves may be formed in the upper end portion of member Zlato permit air to be blown through the tubular member 26 whereby to blowdust away from the cutting end of the eroding tool. Another advantage ofthe present construction is that it makes possible cutting closer to theedge of the work material than when holding tongs are used to positionand hold the work, thus making it possible to produce a greater yield ofcompleted work from a ton of work material.

Besides being used for the cutting of blanks, this machine may be usedfor the forming of holes in metallic plates or other material.

While a specific relationship of parts is disclosed herein, it is to beunderstood that the parts may be reversed so that what is now the lowerwork holder will become the upper one and vice versa.

While we have shown what is now regarded as the preferred embodiment ofthis invention, we desire it understood that various modifications canbe made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims and wetherefore do not wish to be limited to the specific structures shown.

Having now described our invention, we claim:

1. In a blanking machine, the combination of an approximatelycylindrical blanking saw, rotatable about its longitudinal axis,Work-holding means, provided with at least one work-engaging point,extending axially through said saw and reciprocable longitudinallytherein, said means having its work-engaging end normally extendingbeyond the end of the saw, means for normally holding said work-holdingmeans protruded beyond the end of the saw, said work-holding meanscomprising a reciprocable spindle and a springpressed sleeve surroundingthe spindle and normally protruding beyond the same, a secondworkholding means facing the saw and the first workholding means andreciprocable longitudinally toward and away from the same, means forholding the second work-holding means in a position to grip work betweenitself and the first work-holding means, and means to retract the secondworkholding means from the first work-holding means to permit removal ofWork from between the two work-holding means and insertion of workbetween them.

2. In a blanking machine having a supporting frame-work provided with alongitudinal aperture, a supporting tube, flanged at its upper end,rigidly mounted in said aperture with the flange resting solidly againstthe upper part of the frame-work so that said tube is held againstvibration and longitudinal motion therein, a sleeve mounted on said tubeand capable of rotary motion around the tube, spaced anti-frictionbearings mounted in said framework and holding said sleeve againstvibration, whereby to assist in holding the tube steady, and alongitudinally movable shell holding member held steady within the tube,the sleeve having a chuck at its lower end within which a cylindricalsaw is fixed.

JOHN WEBER, JR. CHARLES F. WEBER. LOUIS H. WEBER. WALTER F. WEBER. FRANKI-I. WEBER. EDWARD W. WEBER. LEONARD G. WEBER. CARL A. GOETZMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 75,462 Robie Mar. 10, 1868369,070 Naylor Aug. 30, 1887 467,563 Shantz Jan. 26, 1892 727,320 EnsignMay 5, 1903 786,849 Sheppard Apr. 11, 1905 844,064 Wallace Feb. 12, 1907855,901 McMaster June 4, 1907 1,182,659 Dusha et al. May 9, 19161,442,794 Chalmers Jan. 23, 1923 1,713,257 Carris May 14, 1929 1,843,326Knott Feb. 2, 1932 1,862,406 Kellie June 7, 1932 1,916,701 Watt July 4,1933 2,163,338 Hopkins June 20, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date18,114 France Dec. 1, 1913 465,627 France Feb. 11, 1914

